Peanut Butter Bliss

Ever found love at first bite? For so long I thought I'd never find my one true Peanut Butter Cookie love - thought I was doomed to settle. Felt like my standards must have been too high; every PB cookie I tried left me only so-so satisfied. I wondered if I'd ever find my ideal PB cookie: one strong in character, but with a soft side, and a chewy texture - something that wouldn't harden to a crisp and crunch after a day or two.
Ladies and gents, may I present to you the most decadent and charismatic Peanut Butter Cookie. This bad boy makes one killer cookie sandwich too. Now, I've heard these little guys called "doozies," but I tell you it will knock you off your feet. Truly not for the faint-of-heart, or taste. Consider yourself forewarned.

 First thing's first: mix up a batch of Nonnie & Squeaks' Peanut Butter Bliss Cookies. Don't eat all the cookies as they come out of the oven either. You may need a support team for this; but you also may feel conflicted about calling your friends since you'll probably want to eat them all yourself...
Anyway, after you have baked a couple dozen, whip this up while they cool.
Filling:
 3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream

Finally, spread a liberal amount of the filling on a cookie. Now smash another one on top. Make sure you have your crew ready to catch you when you pass out. 

Double Chocolate - Dive on in

Double up on chocolate with our new cookie mix! Obviously we, and our fans, couldn't get enough chocolate out of our classic Chocolate Chip Cookies mix -- we had to go all cocoa out. Think about it, double means extra yummy awesomeness and fun. Double-dutch, double-bubble gum, double-dipping, double back-flips, double overtime, double rainbow. Things are just better doubled. And if you want to get real crazy here, stay with me, you can double the cookies-per-bite ratio by trying this new recipe. Make sure you have an assistant nearby, in case you faint from double-delicious-delirium.

Bake up a batch of Nonnie & Squeaks' Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. Is it just me, or does a slightly underdone, fresh out of the oven, gooey cookie taste like a mini chocolate soufflée? 

While they're off cooling down, whip up a batch of the softest, fluffiest butter-cream frosting:

1\4 C Butter, softened

1/4 C Shortening or Lard

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Lemon Juice

4 C (approx 1 lb) Confectioner's Sugar aka powdered sugar

2-3 Tbsp Water (not milk)

With a stand or hand mixer, beat together the butter and shortening, along with a cup of the powdered sugar. At any time add the lemon and vanilla. Slowly add in a cup or a half at a time until your frosting reaches a desired consistency. You want it to be soft and fluffy, not runny, and not curdled. If you have added too much sugar and it starts to chunk, just add a Tbsp of water until it smooths out again.

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for: take one of those decadent cookies, and spread about a tbsp or two of frosting on the bottom. Now take another cookie and ceremoniously set it atop the layer of frosting atop cookie. Take a bite; you know, just to make sure. Double -watch OMG out - delight. Just try not to eat every one as you make them.

Tip: For festive treats, simply add a few drops of your preferred food coloring into the frosting batch while still mixing, and maybe a few sprinkles or colored sugar to the edges.

Hug around the middle

Little skirts flounce and

With strings attached to her sides

Never lost a cook.

Eau d'Orange

   Hosting dinner, movies, or games with friends turned into a favorite weekly occurrence even before we were quite moved in to our new apartment. Now that the dust has settled over more than a few bookshelves, and most everything has its comfortable home I focus more on adding those special details when expecting company. Serving your friend a delicious cup of tea is quite a treat - but why not pour it in an antique set, and serving mini-muffins with a folded lace napkin on the side? Okay, so nearly none of us has time to embroider handkerchiefs anymore, but there are plenty of little touches to elevate any gathering from simply hanging-out, to quite the classy soirée. 

       Here's a old trick that our often busy minds just forget as one way to liven up the table: simply add some fresh citrus fruit to perk up a pitcher of cold water. Add berries for a smart bite. Mix and match lemons, oranges, limes. Thinly sliced cucumbers add a crisp edge - the sky's the limit. And you'll feel like you're out in the sunshine on one of those lazy, picnic-in-the-park kind of afternoons. Friends and family scurrying around for those last minute school-supplies? Enjoy a little luxury all to yourself. Whatever your favorite ingredient for this, go on and indulge. For those of you who (perish the thought) don't care for drinking plain water, this could be your answer to getting in those eight cups a day!

Eau d'Orange (Orange Water)

First gather your fruits or veggies of choice:

1 orange

1 lemon

Rinse well! You don't want to be drinking any of those harmful chemicals, pesticides, or that waxy coating they sometimes put on fruit.

Next, thinly slice across the midsection - the widest point. You will only need two to three slices per fruit, depending on how strongly you want the water infused with their juices. I like more subtlety.

If you are using a cucumber, try peeling stripes vertically before slicing horizontally. For peaches, plums, and other pit-iful fruit, cut smaller wedges. Black and Blueberries just plop in whole, unless you want to go through the whole process of mashing and straining. 

*A word to the wise: drink this immediately after making: the water will be fine to drink a day later, but never looks as charming as when it's fresh.

Granny's Sugar Cookies

Well it's official: we expanded our cookie pantry with a scrumptious new mix - Granny's Sugar Cookies. The perfect gift for that generous hostess, teacher, sweet bride-to-be, or your friend's half-birthday that's just around the corner, these cookies are sure to bring back beloved memories of your (or your best friend's) sweet-and-tart granny and her words of wisdom.
To kick off our release, we are offering a buy-3-get-1-free deal! Applicable to our jars and refill bags - all jars or all bags. No mixing-and-matching. This offer will last a whole month, ending on Labor Day, September 5, 2011 at 11:59pm. Contact us directly at nonnieandsqueaks@gmail.com to place your order today.

Keep checking in on us -- we have several tricks up our sleeve (aka new cookies on the horizon).



Riddle: What do you put in a corner that travels all over the world?

Just keep swimming

Planning, listing, decisions, ordering, shopping, snipping, pairing, sewing, measuring, baking, tasting... 
Sometimes I feel like I jumped into a pool without knowing the depth or temperature of the water. 
Between nurturing the growth of this budding business and an already-stuffed work and social schedule, I feel like a walking zombie lately. But the good part is the sense of accomplishment, the one that accompanies complete exhaustion. Pouring every ounce of energy, thought, and creativity bring both simultaneously. 
After many conversations, I walk away thankful I wrote everything down; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to remember I wanted to do. 
One more puzzle piece found for what it means to be a businesswoman. 
I am so proud. 
Every day I am learning how to better build and sustain this endeavor, even with the occasional writer’s block. Through our fatigue we work 'round the clock. The invaluable support from our family and friends encourages us each step of the way. With out these wonderful people in our lives, we wouldn’t have made it this far. 
It's exciting. 
It's terrifying. 
Dive right in.

Piecing it together

From yards of fabric
Trimmed puzzle pieces take form
Soon you’re wearing art!

What's the Dill?

Try our launch party sandwich sensation! Light and refreshing, these tasty open-faced sandwiches spruce up any luncheon, bridal or baby shower menu. They even work as hors d'oeuvres for a light snack the office, or any event or birthday party. It's all about simple and fresh ingredients with these sandwiches. One of these days I may even home-make the Italian cream cheese spread with fresh herbs and spices. First time making these finger-friendly snacks, I wanted to cover every inch of the bread with the spread, but held back, letting the cucumbers shine in the limelight (lemon, in this case). A little bit sure went a long way. What I couldn’t anticipate was how delightfully delicious they are from first to last bite. You can make the spread ahead of time (and refrigerate) but the sandwiches are best when assembled shortly before serving. They will disappear fast; be sure to plan for a second plate!

Cucumber Sandwiches
          *adapted from Cora Wallin’s recipe

- Medium/large Cucumber (thinly sliced, with skins ON)
- Cream cheese, one package
- Package powdered Italian dressing mix
- Bit of milk – about 1 Tbsp
- Pumpernickel Rye, sliced and halved or quartered
- Dill (dried is fine)
- Lemon juice

Soften cream cheese at room temp, mix in salad dressing mix and enough milk to make the cheese spreadable. Spread on bread, top with sliced cucumber. Go ahead and begin to lay them out on a serving platter. When one layer is completed, spritz with a few drops of lemon juice over the cucumbers all over the plate, but be careful not to drizzle too much (unless you like lemon-soggy rye bread). Sprinkle with dill. Enjoy, and try to save some for your guests.

Wearing Art

        Carol Beal, artist of Bead Unsupervised, makes extraordinary jewelry creations from beads, felt, clay, fused glass, and assorted natural stones. And her pins and buttons make special appearances on some of Nonnie & Squeaks’ aprons! Fret not - these little works of art are made to last, built to endure, structured to stand the test of time (and washes, at least the buttons). But as is always recommended, handling with utmost care leads to longevity. 

        I can just see Carol sitting at her table, African Gray bird on one shoulder, clay rolled out, pieces set aside ready to bake, and other colorful scraps and morsels lying around. Each button is handcrafted from a polymer clay, and they sport a range of designs from funky spirals to abstract doodles. The time it must take. Some of the intricate designs rival cinematic-still depictions of a frenetic time warp. While your eyes are still spinning, consider how the detailing in her beadwork exceeds even the intricacies of her clay work. Wild colors and stunning contrasts characterize each piece. Reiterated motifs dance throughout, be it necklace, pin, or what-have-you. Her sculptures are little metropolises of bustling beads. They are miniature coral reefs, with a beautiful and delicate balance between vibrant flashes of color among the foundation’s more subtle, quiet hues. And these versatile pins can be worn on any other garment – a coat, a dress or skirt, a blouse, and even on a headband! When you have the time, take a gander to her online shop:beadunsupervised.etsy.com. The photographs give you a suspicion of an idea of the incredible craftsmanship behind each item. And look for her pins and buttons on more of our upcoming aprons at nonnieandsqueaks.etsy.com.

Blueberry Mint Lemonade

What does summertime bring for you? Grilling out - BBQ ribs and veggie kebabs, spending some time on the water soaking up the sun, fresh guacamole with crisp corn tortilla chips - roasting marshmallows and making gooey dark chocolate s'mores. Mmmmm! Those neighborhood kids with their sweet lemonade stands. Ah, brings back memories of overly tart lemony watered-down from too long in the sun you-call-that-lemonade?. But now, being eh-hem years old, taste buds demand more sophisticated and flavorful fruity drinks. That's why this recipe came in handy when throwing the Nonnie & Squeaks' Launch Party. Here's the Blueberry Mint Lemonade we served - hope you enjoy the refreshing taste as much as we all did. 

Blueberry Mint Lemonade

• 2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 12 lemons)
• 3 oranges (med to small) worth of freshly squeezed juice
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 fry pint of fresh blueberries, rinsed and stems removed
• 1/3 cup fresh mint, rinsed and patted dry
• 8 cups water
• 3/4 cup vodka (optional)
• 
  
•          First collect the lemon and orange juice in a large pitcher (pulp to your preference). In a separate container, mash the blueberries until they are a deep magenta color, and resemble the texture of a rather soft jam. Strain the juice from the blueberries into the lemon-orange juice (I used a spatula to press the fruit juice through the strainer, as the pulp started to clog at the bottom). Chop up or crush the mint leaves and add them to the mix. Whisk in the sugar until dissolved. Refrigerate overnight (or an hour if you are on a time crunch - but it's better after 10 hours or so). Next day: strain the mint out of the mix, stir in the water, and pour over ice. Blueberries and fresh whole mint leaves make a lovely garnish. Hot Pink Lemonade!

This recipe was inspired by one served at Bottega Louie in downtown Los Angeles, and adapted from Gaby Dalkin's own creation on http://whatsgabycooking.com/blueberry-mint-lemonade/

Ready, Set, Launch!

      The idea for Nonnie & Squeaks began earlier this spring, during a conversation between two sisters. Squeaks had been teaching a friend to sew. During one of the frequent Skype video-chats, Squeaks shared her idea of making unique vintage-inspired hosting aprons to sell online. A little idea sparked in my head -my irresistible chocolate chip cookies. I too had thought of selling homemade goods, but one doesn’t always have a bakery in her backyard. In any case, such an undertaking at this point in life would simply not be possible. So brainstorming led to: instead of selling the baked cookies, how about a dry cookie mix? Done. Now the hard part: a business name. We went back and forth for a few days. Wanting the emphasis to be on our product, with the freedom to add future products of any sort, round and round we went, suggesting different business names, mulling on a couple at a time. Finally, after much consideration, we came back to the first idea thrown out of using our childhood nick-names, Nonnie and Squeaks. Catchy, cute, nostalgic and still sophisticated; all things we hold within the vision of what our products encompass.  Officially on April 26^th, 2011, we co-founded Nonnie & Squeaks. Today we are in business, and we want to thank everyone who helped and encouraged along the way. A special thanks to those who came to our Launch Party, which went swimmingly. PS. That Blueberry Mint Lemonade disappeared like water in a drought!

Eureka!

Isn’t it wonderful when you stumble across a new, more efficient way to accomplish something? Surely you know that conflicted feeling -- somewhere between proud, self satisfied, and slightly annoyed -- when the revelation hits that your methods before were wasting time, but now you can increase productivity tenfold! Made two such discoveries today; gold star. The second though came at a price. Reading the manual. Dismal. I spent close to twenty minutes flipping through thing (because each page lists directions in all four languages; they can’t have printed each language in its own section) until I found out how to use presser-foot attachment number 7. Mystery solved at last. Sweet success. Although, I wish someone could have told/shown me in a minute or less; yes, and deny myself the satisfaction of knowing I persevered and taught myself something new. Pah. Actually - it makes me wonder: why do we say someone is “self-taught” if the real teacher is the author of the book? But I digress. A great feeling of accomplishment followed my laborious research. And now it’s off to bed.

Good morning to you too

      Coffee was the very first order of business this morning. Thoughts of a iced coffee with vanilla and cream. With venti in hand, once again, everything is right in the world. After jump starting my engine with my coveted caffeine (and a veggie-packed breakfast, of course, for breakfast is the most important meal of the day), I was ready to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I turned the oven on to pre-heat at 350 degrees F and grabbed the half-stick of Parkay margarine that I set out to soften before leaving for my coffee, which was comfortably room temperature. Ideal for the cookies. I have in the past on occasion zapped my Parkay in the microwave, but the absolute best cookies result when it’s been set out.

      To Mr. Softie Parkay, I added the Chocolate Chip Cookie mix, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 large egg and ½ a teaspoon of vanilla extract, mmm, the sweet smell of real vanilla extract (none of this “imitation flavor” junk). A couple minutes of stirring it all together and my mouth began to water. I could see the dough mixing into a lovely almond-tan color. Irresistible. I took a snitch. Just a small taste, to sample the dough, you know... to make sure it tasted delicious. It did. (Naturally). Those semi-sweet chocolate chips partied in my mouth with the sugar and buttery, vanilla flavors - they are fast friends you see. But back to the business of baking them: I grabbed my non-stick baking sheet and began to spoon out the cookies, being sure to leave room in between them so each could spread out (kinda territorial, aren’t they?). Timer set, I knew I only had to wait 12 short minutes for the desired results.  As I sipped my coffee, I watched the clumps of dough slowly flatten and plump. A minute before the timer went off, I poured myself half a glass of cold milk. BEEEEEP! 

 

      Perfection. I smiled as I gently lifted the golden beauties from the oven. Saving them from over-cooking on the hot baking sheet, I scooped them up and placed them on the cooling rack. But the last one (yes, the one that looked like it had the most chocolate chips) I rescued to a small plate. My plate. My cookie plate. How my tummy grumbled at their deliriously sweet scent. While another pan of cookies started the 12 minute journey to perfection, I sat, happily nibbling away, each and every bite of heaven. “This is bliss,” I thought to myself.  “What an ideal way to start off any day!”
-Nonnie

The storm before the calm

Debris and scraps

Sometimes I feel my workspace looks like a natural disaster came through. Perhaps it did. The whirlwind of pattern cutting, fabric scraps flying around the room, landing in hap-hazard piles - colorful stacked uncut fabrics, layers of apron skirts, waistbands and ties. Finished pieces for the next aprons lie next to each other as we sew each apron in turn. Team sisters + mom, dedicated, chip away at the mound of pre-cut fabric. Stitch and snip and iron and sew, repeat. Unique pairings of the fabric make the whole process a party. Each apron has its own personality, and I can’t wait to meet the next one. The demure Victorian floral print with her sweet cream pocket and ties is followed by a spunky multi-colored pattern and bold orange with no-nonsense white pinstripes. The abstract green pocket pops on the cherry flecked gingham, and makes me think of baking pies rather than cookies. Mmmm, cookies. Speaking of those: check back in soon for Nonnie’s no-hassle, step-by-step, guide-to-perfection confection chocolate chip cookies.  

-Squeaks

Beginnings

As I went out this evening to purchase my first “bulk” set of 50 jars for Nonnie’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, a wave of excitement hit me. I thought to myself, “This is really happening. We are committed and I am as thrilled about this endeavor as ever!” The man behind the counter didn’t take me too seriously when I politely asked him for a box to put all 50 items into that I was purchasing. He replied, “Just grab a cart and throw ‘em in all in there.” A moment of silence passed between us as I looked at him in disbelief. “My items are glass jars.” I stated as politely as I could, looking him directly in the eye. “Is there perhaps just one box that I could pack them all into to carry out?” He furrowed his brows and was off to find a box. 

My mother, accompanying me along this bulk purchasing adventure, quickly found our jars and started counting, setting aside exactly 50. As we inspected each and everyone, the excitement welled up within me once again. I proudly wheeled the box up to the check out counter, which fit snugly into our cart. The man replied, “Wow, you weren’t kidding. 50 jars, huh?” I smiled and affirmed, with a quick nod of my head. “Looks awful heavy, are you sure you will be able to get the box out of that cart?” Mom piped up, “We will manage.” Once paid for, I proudly wheeled our first 50 jars out to my vehicle. I gently placed the box into my car and off I drove, as slowly and carefully as any first-time parent with a newborn. I could hear the slight clinking of glass with every bump, turn and stop. My heart was pounding but I couldn’t stop smiling.
 
~Nonnie